What is a herbarium?

A herbarium is a collection of plant specimens that have been pressed, dried, and mounted on rigid paper of archival quality. Each herbarium specimen includes a label with information pertaining to the plant's identification, geographical location, habitat, and morphology. Herbarium specimens are filed in a logical system, allowing researchers to access them easily.

A herbarium is a library and research tool for systematists and taxonomists -- scientists concerned with the identification, classification, ecology, evolution, and distribution of plants. If properly cared for, herbarium specimens can last for centuries, providing a record of the world's flora throughout time. Herbaria also serve as repositories of anatomical data, such as pollen, and genetic information, such as DNA. Herbaria also house 'type' specimens. 'Types' are extremely valuable specimens, because they stabilize scientific names and they are samples of the actual plant that formed the basis of the original description of a particular species.

The practice of collecting, drying, and mounting botanical specimens began in 16^th century Italy. By the time of Linnaeus in the 1700's, the custom was widespread throughout Europe. Early herbaria were private collections, and specimens were bound together in large books rather than kept as separate sheets. A "herbarium" originally was a book about medicinal plants. The term was applied to actual collections of specimens in the 18^th century.

Herbarium specimen of Penstemon oklahomensis with label, annotation label, and bar code reference Vascular plants are mounted on 11" x 16" sheets of archival paper.	Specimen label with data on location, complete scientific name, habitat, collectors and collection number, and date of collection
Moss, liverwort, and lichenized fungi specimens are generally stored in 4" x 6" packets with a stiff backing.	Packets are generally stored in boxes within cabinets.
Specimens in herbarium cabinets are organized in a systematic manner and kept in facilities that minimize damage from fire, water, and insects.	Specimens are organized within cabinets by taxonomic group (family, genus, species) and geographic region

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